ryansoton

Montenegro has narrowly voted to secede from its union with Serbia, according to unofficial projections.
If confirmed, the vote would erase the last vestige of the former Yugoslavia.

Indications are that 55.3% of voters elected to secede from Serbia. The pro-independence bloc needs to win 55% of the vote to succeed.

The question of independence has deeply divided Montenegro, with its opponents arguing that it will damage economic, family and political ties with Serbia.

Predrag Bulatovic, the opposition leader who spearheaded the campaign against integration, said his camp would not admit defeat based on an "arbitrary estimate by a monitoring group".

"The results are not final until they are confirmed by the state referendum commission," he said, urging the government to ask its supporters to leave the streets.

"Such a crucial decision must not be carried out by a trick," Mr Bulatovic said.

Do you want Montenegro to be an independent state with full international and legal legitimacy?

Serb politicians, Orthodox church leaders and Montenegrins from the mountainous inland regions bordering Serbia broadly opposed secession.

However, ethnic Montenegrins and Albanians from the coastal area largely favoured independence, as did the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic.

He has argued that an independent Montenegro will have a stronger economy and will be a better candidate for admission into the European Union.

Record turn-out

Indications that the pro-independence bloc may have won the vote has prompted celebrations in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica.

The tooting of car horns filled the city and youths were seen waving the red and gold flag of the old Montenegrin monarchy.


Opponents of independence said the economy would suffer


Guns and fireworks were let off in celebration.

Polls opened early on Sunday morning and turnout was said to have surpassed a record 85%.

Voters, some of them dressed in their Sunday best clothes, pondered the referendum question: "Do you want Montenegro to be an independent state with full international and legal legitimacy?"

In the days preceding the vote, thousands of Montenegrins living abroad were invited back to the country to cast their ballot.

With a population of fewer than 700,000 people, the vote of the diaspora was considered as crucial by both camps.

Montenegro's loose union with Serbia was established in 2003, replacing what was left of the former Yugoslavia.

Both sides were given the option of electing to leave the union after three years.

The last time Montenegro was independent was nearly 90 years ago at the end of World War I, when it was absorbed into the newly-formed Yugoslavia.

In the days running up to the vote, thousands of Montenegrins living abroad have travelled home in order to cast their ballot

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The people up at the top of the EU already have him eating out of the palms of their hands. For the last few years - thanks to Djukanovic - Montenegro has been using the euro as its currency (whilst still, officially, being part of what is left of the Yugoslav state with Serbia). No referendums, elections or anything like that. He just brought the euro in.